Experimental study on microscopic wear mechanism of copper/carbon/rice bran ceramics composites

► Cu/C/RBC composites exhibits lower friction and wear than Cu/C composite. ► Microscopic wear mechanisms of Cu/C/RBC composites were investigated. ► Wear mode map of ceramics well estimates of the transition of the wear modes. ► A predictive equation of wear using newly introduced parameter Sw was proposed. ► Higher fracture toughness and lower friction resulted in lower wear.